Hulling-machine.



C. SCH A FLER.

HULLING MACHINE.

APPLHCATION FILED FEB. 18. ms.

Patented A11 20, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOH (hr/03452 51? WITNESSES ATTORNEY CARLOS soHAFLER, 0F MEEIDA, MEXICO.

HULLING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented no. so, 1918.

Application filed February 18, 1918. Serial No. 217,900.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cannes Scni firnnn, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, and a resident of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, have invented a new and Improved Hullinglsfachine, of Which the following is ,a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to hulling machines, such as shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,212,113, granted to me January 9, 1917.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hulling machine more especially designed for hulling cereals,.such as maize and Indian corn, Without danger of breaking or crushing the grains, thus rendering the hulled grains especially serviceable for the making of tortilla and arepa.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a revoluble vessel adapted to contain the cereal to be hulled, a plunger arranged eccentrically Within the vessel and having both anup and down and a turning motion and coacting With the side of the said vessel, and a revoluble rubbing and agitating means arranged centrally Withinthe vessel and coacting with the said plunger.

A practical embodiment of the in vention is represented in the accompanying CllZLW- ings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indica e corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1. is a sectional. side elevation of the hulling machine;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. o;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a similar view of the same on the line wk-a1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of one of the plungers, the section being on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 77 of Fig. 6. 7

1n hulling maize or Indian corn for making tortilla or arepa it has been the practice to soak the maize in lime Water with a view to loosen the hull, and when this has been accomplished the kernels are rubbed against each other to remove the hull from the grains.

In applicants machine, presently to be described in detail, the hulling 18 accomplished mechanically Without the use of lime Water and Without crushing or breakproper ing the grains so that the same are in condition for making tortilla or arepa.

The machine is mounted on a suitably constructed frame 10 provided with a support 11 for a ball bearing 12 engaged by an annular flange 13 formed on the upperend of a vessel 14- adapted to contain the cereal to behulled. A shaft 15 extends centrally through the vessel 14: and on it are secured a plurality of rubbing and agitating members 16, preferably in the form of Wing or spider Wheels one above the other, and having the faces of their Wings roughened to provide rubbing and agitating surfaces. Intermediate the rubbing and agitating members 16 and the side wall of the vessel 14 are plungers 20 and 21 disposed on (he metrically opposite sides of the rubbing and agitating members 16 and coacting with the latter and With the inner face of the side wall of the vessel 14. The plungers 20 and 21 are mounted to'rotate and reciprocate in an up and down direction and alternately in opposite directions. For the purpose mentioned the plungers 20 and 21 are provided With upwardly extending shafts 22, 23, preferably made polygonal in cross section, and journaled in bearings formed on or attached to a plate 21 attached to the main frame '10. The upper-ends of the plunger shafts 22 and 23 are provided With heads 25, 26 mounted to, turn in bearings 27, 28 held on the lower ends of pitmen 29, 30, engaging cranks 31, 32 of a crankshaft 33 journaled in the upper portion of the'main frame 10. The crank shaft'33 is provided at one end With a suitable fly Wheel 3% and at the other end with fastand loose pulleys 35,36 connected by a belt 37 with other ma chinery for imparting a continuous rotary motion to the crank shaft 33 which by the connection described imparts an up and down movement to the plungers 20 and 21 Within the vessel 14. I

The plungers 20 and 21 besides having the up and down movement described have a rotary movement, and for this purpose the centrally disposed and driven shaft 15 is provided at the upper end With a gear Wheel 40 in mesh With gear Wheels 11 and 422 engaging the plunger shafts 22 and 23 to rotate the latter and to allow the same to slide up and down in the gear Wheels 11 and ti. arranged be ing plate at the gear wheels l1 down movement.

The centrally disposed shaft driven from a main shaft ournalec in the lower portion of the znain .raino 10 and pr vided with fast and loose l 1 and con nected by a belt 53 e chine the lower end of bevel gear wheel 5 1 in n secured on a shaft 56 journaled on ti fr; me 10 and he *i its his coinoidi 1. Ji 1. W ,1 3 Title- 01 tlli, 19.2111 F115 s and centre crunied on control of the operator. is runni the clutch member to .pini m gage nentvita the clutch nienmei.

T he

ourpose the Ye riorly with a wheel with a pinion ol secured on the 111?)81 ent. of shalt journaled in suitable the main frame 10.

ecribed b such 3 letter in planners 1-1116 direct-lo elation; p id 21 and the 16 rotate about or revolutions f1 5 inalre hers able

nienbe .r i r n. -.l oil. while the F-lClQS bottoms of the said nienibcrs are rorgheneeh as plainly indicate l preferably hemispherical and made in 1 and 6. llhe tops of the arms '71 are likewise sinooth while the sides and bottom are roughened thus permitting the plangers to readil move upward in the ercal contained in the vessel 1%. By making the members '70 and 72 conical they readily pass downward into the cereal contained in the vessel let, and by being roughened they t'acih itate the hulling' operation. the shafts and 230i the plungers 2O ant 21 are secured centrally in the upper ends of the central members 70, as plainly shown in the drawings.

ll ithin the upper portion of the vessel is a ranged a perforated coil 80 oonnec with a water supply pipe 81 for dischargi h water into the cereal prior to starting the nachine. Above the top of t i vessel 1% is arranged cover formed of two wire net tings 82 hinged at 83 to opposite sides oi a 85 plate Set attached to the plate ll, as plainly indicated in 1 and 5. 1t is understood that by the arrangement described the cover sections 82 can he rcadil swung into open position for filling the vesse 1% with a cereal to be hulled. The bottom of the res'ascll two sections and 91 hinged at U2 and to t a lower end of the ressel as plainly innit ed in Fig. 2. The sides. of he section 90 connected by links 94: wi'h brackets 9 tached to the side edges of the other 91 so that the two bottom sections-2 90 and swing simultaneously into the open orclosod position. The bottorn sections 90 and 91 are held'locked when in closed poei o the use of a sleeve 96 mounted to slide s up and down on the central shaft 15 below the bottom sections, and tie so.

is engaged by a shifting lever finer: ed at 98 on the main frame 10 and u idcr control of the operator. The hant le 99 ot the lever 97 is provided with locking lever 100 adapted to engage 311'l161 of two notches 101 and 102 arranged on a brzcke 10 3 s cured to the 1911;1110 10 so to hol 9'? locked in uppermost or lowerin .m tion. lifter tl e hulling operation pleted, the lever 91 is manipulated operator t slide the locking sleeve .1 ward ant thus allow tie bot-ton and 91 to swing open o the T nilled cereals within the rolled cereals pass through the 0 into a chute 9 '10 111011;. t frame 10 and deliieringthe l t T an endless conrcyer 111 of any ajprored construction for delivering the hullcd grain to one side of the machine, preferml to separatin niill not shown) for separating the kernels from the hulls and hilunis. 'lhe endless conveyor 111 is driven from the it-iain shift 50 by a suitable gearing such as shown in 3. and consisting of a bevel gear wheel 112 secured on the shaft 50 and in mesh with a bevel gear wheel 113 secured on a shaft 114: forming part of a driving roller 115 of the endless conveyer 111.

In order to facilitate the closing of the bottom sections 90 and 91, use is made of a closing device in the form of a friction roller 120 journaled in a head 121 held on one end of a rod 122 mounted to slide in a suitable bearing 123 attached to the main frame 10. The rod 122 is pressed on by a spring 12% to normally hold the rod in an outermost inactive position, and on the outer end of the rod 122 is secured a handle 125 adapted to be taken hold of by the operator for push ing the rod 122 inward to cause the friction roller 120 to engage one of the bottom sections 90 or 91 to swing the same shut and as this bottom section is connected by the link 91- and bracket 95 with the other bottom section, it is evident that both sections move simultaneously into closed position. When this position has been reached the operator manipulates the lever 97 with a view to raise the sleeve 96 to lock the bottom sections 90 and 91 in their closed position. The vessel 14: is then filled with the cereal to about the height of the upper rubbing and agitating member 16.

The operation is as follows:

/Vhen the vessel 14 is charged with the maize or other cereal and the clutch member 58 turning with the continually rotating shaft 50 is thrown into engagement with the clutch member 5'7 then a simultaneous rotary motion is given to the vessel l-l. the agitating and rubbing members 16 and the plungers 20 and 21 which plungers in addition are reciprocated up and down owing to their connection with the rotating crank shaft 33. As soon as the machine is started a small amount of water is discharged through the perforated pipe 80 to moisten the cereal contained in the vessel 14. It will be noticed that the up and down and rotary movement of the plungers 20 and 21, the rotary movement of the rubbing and agitating members 16 and the rotating movement of the vessel 14 cause the kernels to be set in motion, and the said kernels are caused to rub against each other and against the roughened surfaces of the members of the plungers 20 and 21 as well as the roughened surfaces of the rubbing and agitating members 16 so that the hulls are gradually detached from the grains. the operation being facilitated. by the supplied moisture. It will be noticed that by the peculiar movement given to the coacting parts the kernels are caused to travel in various directions to insure a complete separation of the hulls from the grains and without danger of the grains being crushed or broken. The plungers 20 and 21 when at the end of their downward stroke are within the hemispherical bottom of the vessel 1% and there coact with the revolviug lowermost rubbing and agitating members 16 so that the grains in the bottom are agitated and rubbed and none of the grains is liable to remain dormant during the time the machine is in operation.

The machine is kept running until the grains and hulls are completely separated together with the hilum of each grain, and when this stage is reached the operator may stop the machine or keep the same running but he manipulates the lever 97 to lower the sleeve 96 with a view to permit the bottom sections 90 and 91 to swing open thus discharging the hulled grains into the chute 110 which delivers the hulled cereal to the conveyer 111 to carry it off the machine. lVhen thishas been done the operator takes hold of the handle 125 of the bottom closing device to close the bottom sections 90 and 91, after which the lever 97 is manipulated to raise the sleeve 96 and thus lock the bottom sections in closed position. The vessel 14 is now refilled to the hinged covers 82, which are opened for this purpose and then the above described operation is repeated.

It is understood that in making tortilla or arepa it is necessary. that the maize be completely freed from the hull and hilum and that the grain remains in wholly unbroken condition. The grain as is well known, is cooked in water and left in water until it is completely saturated and then the grain is reduced and formed into a dough which isdivided into small cakes and baked to form tortilla or arepa. If the grains were crushed prior to cooking only the formation of a paste would be the result, hence it is absolutely necessary that all crushing or breaking during the hulling operation is avoided. This result is achieved by the use of the machine above described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a hulling machine, a revoluble ves sel adapted to contain the cereal to be hulled, a plunger eccentrically within the vessel and having an up and down and a turning mo tion, the plunger coacting with the inner sur face of the said vessel, and revoluble rubbing and agitating means arranged centrally within the vessel and coacting with the said plunger.

2. In a hulling machine, a vessel adapted to contain the cereal to be hulled, a revoluble rubbing and agitating device arranged centrally within the vessel, and a reciprocating plunger within the vessel intermediate the side wall of the vessel and the said rubbing and agitating device.

3. In a hulling machine, a vessel adapted to contain the cereal to be hulled. a rubbing and agitating device arranged centrally within the vessel, a reciprocating plunger within the vessel intermediate the side wall of the vessel and the said rnhla d provided with radial arms supporting tating device, means for rotati;l the ither hnllin f members the said hailing vessel, means for rotating the w members and the said arins being roughened and agitating device and the i f at the sides and bottoms, and the tops being and means for moving the plunger up and smooth and rounded elf. 65 down. ll. In a hulling machine a vessel ada )ted i l. in a hnlling machine, a vessel adaoted to conta'n the cereal to he hulled, and p t to contain the cereal to he hnlled, ruhloing vided with a bottom nrade in hinget secand agitat device arranged centrally tions o allovv of opening and closi g the Within the vessel a reciprocating plunger said htttoin, a ii 5: connection connecting 76 Within the vessel intermediate the side Wall the said bottom sections with each other a o" the vessel and the said rnhhing 311i ag'i- 'il't extending centrally through the said device, ineans t'cr rotr the said sseli and manually controlled means below at a lovr rate of speed ins-an for rothe 52 id bottom to engage the latter and tating the said rubbing and agi hold it locked in closed position. 7 5 vice and the said plunger in oppol, 1L In a hulling machine, a vessel adapted tions and approxiniate at the a rate to contain the cereal to he hulled and pro of speed and at a higher rate of :peed than vided with a bottom made in hinged secn L l the said Weasel and means for niovinr die plunger up and down.

In a hnlling machine, a. revolnhle YE), Sel adapted to contain the cereal to l iulledq shaft ext a revoluhle shaft extending centrt the said vessel ruhh and a hers secured on the said other, plungers arrange between the said rnobing and lg members and the side wall of the r is to allow of opening and closing the a. a lint: connection coniecting said bottom sections vvith each other, a e i g centrally through the said mounted to slide on the saiC l l i i c i i shaft below t 1e said bottom to engage he L latter and hold it locked in closed P08510115 and a lever controlling the said sleeve.

711 a hulling; machine, a vessel adaptel ain the cereal to he hulieth means for means to reciprocate the plain up the vesseh a driven shaft e:'- 38 and doivin and means 40 late a; said tel" ce irongh the said vesse,

" ing spider Wheels se- "-"tt Within the said vesplungers from the said shat;

In a hulling machine a vessel alapted c i i i, to contain the cereal to be hnlled and a i j 1c vessel intermediate plunger arranged Within the vessel an t, i t e side "Wall of the 35 acting v'ith the side vvall thereof, the said J a1 carrying the s re the came up inn motion and tie plunger havi: g 'ally disposed cone shaped hnllnig niein iecting the said cen r 7 hers. v plunger shafts to ro' T. In a hiilling machine, a, plunger having iron; he raid central sl aft. 1% vertically disposed cone-shaped hulling i hnlling machine, a vessel adapted members. of which one is disposed centrally t ii the cereal to he hnlled, means for and the others are grouped a mind the centhe said vessel, a driven shatter;- tral one and spaced from J I and t i the said 45 from each other, the snrfac tn: 'll'l r all l er Wheels secu d hulling; nieniliiers hei long; said sl a Within the a -s l,

8. iii a hnlling n1 inc, 1 get havpl av ves el inter-r b ing vertically disposed COllefillfi-ipC-il hnlling f aid vrheels and the side wall 0 said members, the bases of which uppermost vessel, plunger shaft arr lng 1e said 50 znd rounded oil and the sides are TOllgilGllGC plnngers, means connected With the said 9. in a hulling machine, a plunger haviny pl gs shafts to move the game up and vertically disposed cane-shaped hell i C d means conn cting the said ense With the SL 1 plunger shafts LO .atter tron t e said central shaft,

connecting the said 11 'd central shaft, and he said main shaft with 3 lzttcl.

members of which one s centrally d and provided with re .al arins FEUPDGT'" the other hnlling ihers, the

members and the s 

